Day at the (Mind) Museum

My friend (and Raviv’s Ninang) Light Manuel took Raviv to The Mind Museum a day before Mother’s Day. Randy and I have long planned to go to The Mind Museum. I (as MomsterTeacher) have received invitations to go there, but my schedule always gets in the way.

Then months ago, Light told me about being excited to “spoil Raviv for a whole day”, and that included a trip to The Mind Museum.

When I realized I’d be busy in May, I realized I’d take Light’s offer so that Ravivo could enjoy even if his parents were busy. And so finally it happened on the Saturday before Mother’s Day. I had classes at McKinley Hill in Taguig that day, and the plan was that our driver would bring Raviv to The Mind Museum (just at BGC) where Raviv would meet his Ninang Light.

Across The Mind Museum

On that day, I woke up really early. It was Yaya Beth’s dayoff, so I had to bathe and dress up Raviv by myself. Eh 6:30 dapat umalis na kami, because we were coming from Sta. Rosa and our classes start at 8. So at 5 a.m., I woke Raviv up—he has to bathe first before I do because if I bathed before he did, mababasa lang ako.

Bathing and dressing him up were a breeze, because he was really looking forward to this day!

While I was teaching, Light contacted our driver and gave him instructions where to drop off Raviv.

During lunch break, I started to worry—pa’ano kung mapa-jebs si Raviv? Can Light handle it? Pa’ano sa escalator (because Light was planning to take Raviv to SM Aura as well)—kaya kaya ni Light si Raviv? Baka mahulog!!! And what if they cross a street and Raviv runs?!? Homaygahd!!!

But of course, I kept these things to myself and calmly texted Light.

Reading this, I didn’t calm down—I got giddy with excitement to hear about their day!

Raviv arrived just in time after my class. I hurried to the van to hear about his day. Ito ang nadatnan ko:

Knocked-out ang bagets! I really, really wanted to wake him up, but I knew he must be sooo tired…he had been up since 5 a.m.!

Good thing that later that night, Ninang Light uploaded their photos while at The Mind Museum. With matching captions pa!

Here they are:

Raviv must have really loved this—recently, he has been obsessed with the solar system! I was really surprised when he recited all the planets from the Sun—in order! Promise!!! We didn’t ask him to memorize the planets—he’s just that passionate about them that’s why he memorized! And he even knows little facts and some trivia about each planet!

And of course, I could only imagine how amazed he was upon seeing these:

Since he was one, he has loved animals! He never tires of playing with his cheapipay rubber and plastic animal toys. And his most favorite among them all are dinosaurs! That’s why as young as two years old, he knew what fossils were! I guess that’s why he spent so much time here:

Ninang Light’s caption: “How I managed to end up with sand in my left shoe, was all thanks to explorer Raviv and his fossil digging frenzy.”

But my favorite posts of Ninang Light were these:

Read Ninang Light’s caption:

‘Di baaa? Remember when I shared with you my sadness over Raviv’s shyness? Well, he was in a strange place with several strangers, with a ninang he sees very rarely. But my oh my oh my! Apparently, my nerdy boy loses his inhibitions when it comes to science! #ManaSaTatay #PeterParkerAllTheWay Oh how I wish I were there to have seen the fire in his eyes (ooops, pun not intended. Seriously!)

Ninang Light’s caption: “Our little scientist is so serious, LOL.”

So I guess he also enjoyed these other science-y stuff:

But because he’s still a kid, he also had to explore the playground at The Mind Museum:

…and apparently made his Ninang enjoy the playground, too!

But Raviv isn’t all Randy—like his Nanay, he also likes giving names!

Ninang Light’s caption: “He named the fishes he caught Rusty, Dusty, and Melvin. I do not know where those names came from, LOL.

By the way, here’s another amusing kwento by Ninang Light:

Kaya pala when I saw him sleeping in the van, the bracelet was still intact:

Perhaps our toddler boy figured that Nanay & Tatay also want to go to The Mind Museum, and that we won’t have to worry about buying his ticket. LOL!

(But seriously, I hope Randy and I could also go there!)

And to further spoil Raviv, Ninang Light brought him to SM Aura…

Ninang Light’s caption: “Raviv pretending to play piano. He was amazed at the piano with keys moving but no piano player.”

This one’s amusing:

Hahaha! Actually, up to now, he’s convinced that Superman is inside that telephone box!

…to go to Toy Kingdom where he was made to choose any toy he liked! Light ended up buying him two toys that IMHO were both expensive!

Pero teka, ano itong hanash ni Ravivo?!? Look:

Until now, I have the same reaction…Whaaaat?!?!? Kaloka ang “no new clothes” mo, Anak! Just the day before that I shopped lots of new clothes for you!!!

***

Randy and I were truly touched by Light’s generosity. Neither Randy nor I am the “Marami ka nang utang sa inaanak mo” or “Pasalubong Ninang, ha.” type. Kahit pa-joke, we don’t say that. Honestly, we find it tacky. And we feel that’s an insult to Raviv’s natural charm (hehe). We don’t want Raviv’s godparents to ever feel they’re obligated to love our son, or to give him gifts. But when they do, we are super duper ultra mega grateful and happy. #ILoveEveryoneWhoLovesMySon

So, thank you Light for making Raviv very happy! I’ll make sure that Raviv never forgets your goodness to him. And I’ll make him promise he’ll take care of you when you grow old and alone.

JOKE LANG!!! You’re going to be cool mom, Light, I can tell. 😉 And a good wife, too! 😉